Bougainvillea plant named ‘Beesnees’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Bougainvillea  plant named ‘Beesnees’, characterized by its outwardly spreading and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored fully expanded leaves; freely flowering habit; and pure white-colored flower bracts.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Bougainvillea hybrida cultivar Beesnees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Bougainvillea plant, botanically known as Bougainvillea hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Beesnees’.

The new Bougainvillea is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Bougainvillea hybrida cultivar Panda, not patented. The new Bougainvillea was discovered and selected by the Inventors from within a population of plants of the cultivar Panda in a controlled environment in Moggill, Queensland, Australia in 1996. The selection of this plant was based on its attractive flower coloration and non-variegated leaves.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings at Moggill, Queensland, Australia since 1997, has shown that the unique features of this new Bougainvillea are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Beesnees have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and/or light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Beesnees’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Beesnees’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored fully expanded leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Pure white-colored flower bracts.

Plants of the new Bougainvillea are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Panda. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Moggill, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Bougainvillea differed from plants of the cultivar Panda in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Bougainvillea rooted more quickly than         plants of the cultivar Panda.     -   2. Plants of the new Bougainvillea grew faster than plants of         the cultivar Panda.     -   3. Plants of the new Bougainvillea had solid green-colored         leaves whereas plants of the cultivar Panda had variegated         leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Bougainvillea were more freely flowering         than plants of the cultivar Panda.     -   5. Plants of the new Bougainvillea and the cultivar Panda         differed in flower bract coloration as flower bracts of plants         of the cultivar Panda were slightly discolored.

Plants of the new Bougainvillea can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Nonya, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Moggill, Queensland, Australia, plants of the new Bougainvillea differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Nonya in flower bract coloration as flower bracts of plants of the cultivar Nonya were mauve-colored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Bougainvillea.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of typical one-year old plants of ‘Beesnees’ grown in the landscape.

The photograph in the middle of the sheet is a close-up view of typical developing flowers of ‘Beesnees’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical developing leaves of ‘Beesnees’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the following botanical description were grown in Moggill, Queensland, Australia in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. Plants used for the description were about one to two years old.

-   Botanical classification: Bougainvillea hybrida cultivar Beesnees. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of the Bougainvillea     hybrida cultivar Panda, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 25° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About two weeks at 25° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Outwardly spreading and bushy plant habit; vigorous             growth habit. Freely branching with lateral branches             potentially developing at every node.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of plant plane.—About 1 to             1.5 meters.         -   Plant width.—About 1 to 1.5 meters.         -   Stem color.—1B.         -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Thorns.—Length: About 8 mm to 15 mm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm             to 2 mm. Color: 199B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:             About 7.4 cm. Width: About 4.1 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing foliage, upper             surface: 144A; towards the center, 144C; “watermark             variegation”. Developing foliage, lower surface: 144A;             towards the center, 144B. Fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 139A; towards the center, 146A; watermark             variegation not apparent. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 144A; towards the center, 144B. Venation, upper             surface: 144A. Venation, lower surface: 152C. Petiole             length: About 1.5 cm. Petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Petiole             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole             color, upper surface: 139A. Petiole color, lower surface:             152C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in axillary             panicles with showy bracts. Flowers face mostly upright.             Flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Natural flowering season.—Cyclically flowering year-round in             Moggill, Queensland, Australia; flowering periods about six             to twelve weeks long.         -   Quantity.—Freely flowering with about 25 flowers per             panicle.         -   Flower longevity.—About six to ten days.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Elongated. Color: 1D.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five; fused tubular             corolla. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Shape:             Fan-shaped. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: 158C. Fully opened, upper surface:             160D. Fully opened, lower surface: 158B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About five; fused tubular             corona. Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: N144C. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: N144C.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Three. Length: About             3.3 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous; rugose. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155C. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: 155C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Angle: About 45° from vertical.             Strength: Strong. Color: 151A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength:             Strong. Color: 151A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamens per flower: About             seven. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 0.75 mm.             Anther color: 13C. Pollen color: 13C. Gynoecium: Quantity of             pistils per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma             shape: Linear. Stigma color: 4D. Style length: About 2 mm.             Style color: 144D. Ovary color: 144B.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Bougainvillea have not been noted to be resistant     to pathogens or pests common to Bougainvillea. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Bougainvillea have good garden     performance as plants of the new Bougainvillea have been observed to     tolerate wind, rain and temperatures from 3 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bougainvillea plant named ‘Beesnees’, as illustrated and described. 